Karnataka’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) recently addressed serious allegations of voter fraud in the Aland Assembly constituency. The allegations, initially raised by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, suggested that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was hindering the investigation by withholding crucial technical data from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Karnataka.
In response, the CEO’s office confirmed that, acting under ECI instructions, all “available information” was handed over to the Superintendent of Police, Kalaburagi district, on September 6, 2023, to facilitate the probe. This data included details such as the objector’s information, form reference numbers, names, EPIC numbers, mobile numbers used for login and processing, the software application medium, IP addresses, applicant location, and submission timestamps.
However, a critical gap remains. Despite the CEO’s statement, the Karnataka CID has repeatedly—18 times since September 2023—requested specific “destination IPs and destination ports” related to the sessions where forged Form 7 applications were made. These crucial requests have gone unanswered, and the CEO’s latest press release made no mention of this missing information.
Sources within the CID explain that the IP addresses already provided are dynamic, making geolocation of devices difficult. Destination IPs and ports, in contrast, are unique and would enable investigators to pinpoint the exact devices used to submit these fraudulent applications, thereby identifying those responsible. Yet, the ECI has consistently failed to provide this vital data.
The controversy stems from December 2022, when the Election Returning Officer (ERO) in Aland received an alarming 6,018 online Form 7 applications, intended for the deletion of voter names. These applications were submitted through various platforms like NVSP, VHA, and GARUDA. The CEO’s statement noted that the sheer volume raised suspicion, prompting a verification of each application.
Interestingly, the First Information Report (FIR) filed at Aland Police Station on February 21, 2023, presents a slightly different narrative. According to the ERO, who was the complainant, the investigation began after former MLA B. R. Patil lodged a complaint with the ECI. Patil alleged that 6,670 votes were illegally deleted across 256 booths in the Aland constituency, leading the ECI and the Deputy Commissioner of Kalaburagi district to order a thorough examination.
Following a rigorous verification process involving EROs, Assistant Election Registration Officers (AEROs), and Booth-Level Officers, only 24 of the 6,018 applications were deemed genuine. The remaining 5,994 were rejected, and no voter names were deleted based on these incorrect applications, the CEO’s office clarified.